Colorado GMU 591 Elk Hunting
Pueblo, Fremont and El Paso counties, central Colorado · 216 sq mi
Based on the EASIEST unit-wide bull or either-sex hunt code available to adult Colorado residents in the 2026 primary draw — the lowest preference-point tier that drew reliably. Private-land-only and Ranching for Wildlife hunts are excluded because neither is a unit-wide public-land opportunity — NOT because the public cannot draw them. A private-land-only license requires the hunter's own permission to hunt private ground; a Ranching for Wildlife license is valid on the participating ranches enrolled in that program. They are separate systems. Other weapons, seasons and nonresident applicants can require substantially more points. The band is a floor, not a target: even the easiest qualifying hunt here sits in that range.
What hunting GMU 591 is like
Colorado GMU 591 covers 216 square miles across Pueblo, Fremont and El Paso counties in the central region. The unit is characterized by gentle and rolling terrain, with 84% of the ground falling in the gentle category, 15% moderate, and only 2% steep. Elevation ranges from 5,200 feet at the low end to 7,000 feet at the high, with typical elevations around 5,800 feet. The combination of modest elevation change and predominantly gentle slopes makes the terrain manageable for hunters on foot, though legal access remains the primary constraint.
The unit is almost entirely private land, with approximately 100% in private ownership. Essentially no ground is open to public hunting. This near-total private ownership creates a fundamental access barrier: regardless of how walkable the terrain is, hunters must secure permission to hunt here. The absence of public-land options means applicants should treat this unit as primarily a private-land or ranching-operation opportunity.
CPW maps an Overall Range of 92% across the unit, meaning elk range is extensive. However, only 22% of the unit is mapped as Resident Population, indicating that a substantial portion of the elk using the unit's range are present seasonally rather than year-round. Summer Range covers 78% and Winter Range 63% of the unit, suggesting that as the fall progresses, especially from late September onward, a shift toward winter ground should be expected. Migration Corridors account for only 1% of the unit. The seasonal-range split indicates elk will not be uniformly distributed across the entire unit throughout a hunt season; hunter success depends partly on where elk concentrate as the calendar moves into October and beyond.
The unit offers three seasons: Archery from September 2 to September 30 (either-sex or antlerless), Muzzleloader from September 12 to September 20 (antlerless or bull), and Late Rifle from October 1 to January 31 (antlerless only). Archery and Muzzleloader fall during the rut onset and primary rut phases, when bull activity is heightened. The late rifle season spans the post-rut period and winter range timing, when elk behavior shifts toward survival mode on winter ground. The general draw difficulty is moderate, requiring 1 to 2 points for the easiest unit-wide bull or either-sex hunt code available to adult Colorado residents.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 5,200–7,000 ft, typically around 5,800 ft
- Steepness
- Gentle — mean slope 5.7°
- Slope breakdown
- 84% gentle · 15% moderate · 2% steep · 0% rugged
- Ground you can count on
- ~0 sq mi
Land & access
About 0% of GMU 591 is public land a hunter can count on.
- Unclassified ownership<1%
- Private100%
Where elk live in the unit
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maps elk seasonal ranges statewide. This is how much of GMU 591 each range covers — the single best clue to whether elk are here in September, in November, or only passing through. The layers overlap, so they do not add to 100%.
- Overall Range92%the full extent of range CPW maps for elk — near 100% on most units, and not a statement about when elk are present
- Summer Range78%used in summer
- Winter Range63%used in winter
- Resident Population22%the only layer that means year-round use
- Migration Corridors1%movement between ranges, not residence
Elk seasons & weapons (2026)
| Season | Dates | Tags offered |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | September 2 – September 30 | Either-sex, Antlerless |
| Muzzleloader | September 12 – September 20 | Antlerless, Bull |
| Late Rifle | October 1 – January 31 | Antlerless |
Dates span every hunt code of that type in this unit and can differ by code. Confirm the current brochure with Colorado Parks & Wildlife before applying.
GMU 591 elk hunting FAQ
Can a hunter with no preference points realistically draw a bull tag here?
The easiest unit-wide bull hunt code for an adult Colorado resident requires 1 to 2 points, so zero-point applicants should not expect to draw the bull muzzleloader hunt. Either-sex and antlerless codes may be available with fewer points in some draw years, but the data provided does not specify those tiers. Applicants without points should verify current draw odds and tier requirements before applying.
Is there any public ground a hunter can actually hunt on without permission?
No. Approximately 100% of the unit is private land, with essentially no ground open to public hunting. Hunters must secure permission from private landowners or pursue a ranching-operation hunt to access the unit.
When does elk distribution shift as the fall season progresses?
Summer Range covers 78% of the unit while Winter Range covers 63%, indicating that as fall advances, elk should be expected to concentrate on winter-range ground. This shift typically accelerates from late September onward as weather and snow drive animals toward lower elevations and winter habitat. The timing and extent of this movement vary with weather conditions.
Which season offers the best chance at a bull?
The Muzzleloader season (September 12 to September 20) is the only option explicitly offering a bull hunt code, and it falls squarely during the primary rut when bull activity and vulnerability peak. The Late Rifle season (October 1 to January 31) is antlerless only.
Is the terrain difficult enough to filter out foot hunters?
No. With 84% gentle terrain and only 2% steep ground, the unit is physically walkable for hunters in reasonable condition. The real limitation is access: the absence of public land means legal permission, not terrain difficulty, is the barrier to hunting here.
Does the small Resident Population share mean elk leave the unit in winter?
No. Resident Population (22%) indicates year-round use on that portion of the unit, while the larger Winter Range share (63%) reflects the full seasonal range available to elk in the colder months. The shares do not overlap; they show that some elk stay year-round while others use the unit seasonally or in migration.
Data sources & methodology
- Colorado Parks & Wildlife — Big Game hunting — seasons, weapons, hunt codes and license types
- CPW — Primary Draw rules — how preference points and the hybrid draw work
- CPW — Elk statistics, draw recap and Drawn Out At reports — the point levels behind the draw-difficulty bands
- CPW — Secondary Draw — licenses remaining after the primary draw
- CPW — Maps and GIS (Species Activity Mapping) — elk seasonal range
- CPW — State Trust Land Finder — which State Trust acreage is enrolled and open to public hunting
- Federal and state land-ownership datasets — land ownership and access
- NOAA climate normals — fall weather
Draw difficulty is a qualitative band, not published odds — the note under the summary above states exactly which hunt code it describes. Land shares are separate, non-overlapping categories: publicly owned is not the same as open to hunting, and State Trust Land is huntable only where CPW has enrolled it. Unit data last updated August 28, 2026.